Not So Innocent (A Dark Fantasy Novel)

A Fire to Remember

Rumors spread fast in the palace of Thorto, like an airborne disease. From whisper to whisper the tale of the servant Lexa and her attempt to assassinate the princess was carried throughout the grand place. By the time the sun rose upon the spirals of glass, crystal and stone, not a single ear had not heard the happenings of the night before.

The princess, of course, was much shaken up by the whole event. She was restless, injured and so plagued by anxiety that even the stone beneath her seemed to tremble. For the princess was no longer a princess. Instead, she was a traitor dragged to the dungeons in a body not of her own, caged both within the servant's body and the rusted bars that surrounded her.

But the servant girl, well, she was doing just fine. In fact, this might as well have been the best day of her entire life. Inside her head, it was a day for parties and celebration.

Outside of her head, however, not so much.

"It was so terrible, William." Lexa, now Adelaide, sniffled, dabbing a handkerchief to her eyes. "I don't believe that I have ever been so frightened in the entirety of my life."

Prince William was the same that he had been that day of the funeral. The same caramel hair, the same gentle eyes. This was not the first time that Lexa had seen him since them, for as a servant she had been a diligent spy of the inner workings of the palace, gathering the details she needed. But it was the first time they had spoken since that day.

Of course, he had no knowledge of the soul that inhabited the body of the princess. He simply saw the loving Adelaide he had always seen, since they were betrothed as children. A union to bring two kingdoms together, instead of driving them towards the growing tensions of war.

They walked the long corridors of the palace, the massive windows glowering over them with reflected sunlight.

"You're safe now, Adelaide. I know that it must have been frightening, but please do take assurance in that the occurrence was a fluke. A servant girl driven mad with hysteria that wished to lash out against the kingdom, so much so that she believes that she is you." The prince is as diplomatic as ever, but there's a certain lack to personality in his tone this time around. It only proved what Lexa had already knew. That the marriage to be between Adelaide and Prince William was one of formalities, and nothing more.

"I just..." Lexa forced her new found voice to break. She had always been gifted at the performance of acting. Especially when it came to pretending to be weak. She found it empowering to enforce a false perception of her, when truly a viper laid under that surface, ready to strike.

"I understand. I do. But everything will be perfectly fine. Your guards will be replaced and so will your maids, just out of formalities."

They arrived at the palace library, and the pair stands outside of the doors. "Well, here we are. I hope that you enjoy your linguistics classes as much as I enjoyed attending breakfast with you."

Lexa casted Adelaide's wide eyes up at the prince, purposefully filling them with gratitude. "Thank you, William. I truly do appreciate it. For everything"

"My pleasure, Princess."

The prince turns, fading from view down the corridor. Lexa watches warily as he goes, and then casts the library doors open.

She steps in, breathing in the scholarly atmosphere of the library. The room is shaded in a dome, filled to the brink with aging books bound in leather, floor upon floor of them. The only light comes from the glass ceiling, which reflects a soft light upon the entirety of the books. It was perhaps Lexa's favorite room in the palace, which was saying something, considering that the throne room was being taken into account. It was always quiet here, a place where Lexa could plan in peace.